Gransnet forums

Chat

BBC to make drama about Jimmy Saville *title amended by GNHQ misleading*

(124 Posts)
CraftyGranny Thu 30-Sept-21 13:08:58

Steve Coogan to take the leading roll in BBC's drama about Jimmy Saville.

What do you think of that?

* Title and opening post edited by GNHQ (please see OP's subsequent posts)

Smileless2012 Fri 01-Oct-21 13:37:52

We grew up with Rolf Harris and Saville on the tv and were totally shocked when RH was convicted.

I was also a Gary Glitter fan and Michael Jackson whose music I still play.

sodapop Fri 01-Oct-21 13:27:38

I felt the same way about Rolf Harris BlueBelle totally shocked and disappointed. I always admired his artistic skill. Same with Bill Cosby.
Does shake your faith in human nature doesn't it.

JenniferEccles Fri 01-Oct-21 12:57:43

I am perfectly certain they are not going to glorify him.
It may well touch on the point I made yesterday about what an extraordinarily complex character he was with his very successful charity works alongside the other depraved side of his character.

Well worthy of a documentary to try and make some sort of sense of those wildly contrasting aspects of his personality.

If it’s done well it could make fascinating viewing.

Alegrias1 Fri 01-Oct-21 12:34:55

Oh FGS.

They're not glorifying him, what on earth would make you say that?

I don't know if they had the Nielsen piece with David Tennant in Aus, but it hardly glorified him.

We don't censor stuff because someone might get a bit upset. Mary Whitehouse left the building a long time ago.

nanna8 Fri 01-Oct-21 12:32:02

Why? Well if you don’t know, I’m not saying and I would have thought it was bleedin obvious. I hate it when they glorify turds.

Alegrias1 Fri 01-Oct-21 12:28:46

Why on earth would you want to stop this? We don't do censorship just because something makes you uncomfortable.

Don't know why, but Schindler's List came into my head. It was very uncomfortable viewing indeed but it needed making. I don't think this will be a pleasant musical dwelling on his good works and how kind he was to his mum.

nanna8 Fri 01-Oct-21 12:19:19

No. No one should ever mention that disgusting piece of filth again, ever. I hope someone stops this.

DiscoDancer1975 Fri 01-Oct-21 12:14:03

I’m not sure how deeply the people viewing this would look.It sounds good, as an awareness stunt, but in reality, I feel most viewers will just see it as entertainment.

Chestnut Thu 30-Sept-21 23:32:09

Jennifer Eccles - I agree with your comment. Savile was a very complex character that we can probably never understand. I always say that the human brain is the greatest mystery in the universe.

JenniferEccles Thu 30-Sept-21 22:53:28

I will probably watch it as I’m sure it will be done sensitively, and I do like Steve Coogan.

Savile was such a complex character though wasn’t he? Alongside the depravity, was a very intelligent man who raised many millions for charity through his marathon runs.
He also volunteered at Broadmoor of all places, where as far as I know there were never any children.

I’m not for one minute saying these mitigate what he did, but, vile though he was, he was complex enough to provide much material for any psychiatrist.

BlueBelle Thu 30-Sept-21 22:43:29

You don’t have to like the character of a drama like this to watch it, you re not supposed to like them it’s expected you ll find them creepy… because they were
I was very disappointed in Rolf Harris he was a really great entertainer and a very very accomplished artist I saw him at a festival and thought what a friendly chap he was, how wrong can you be
The same for Bill Crosby I thought his show was lovely and used to look forward to watching every week Was it called the Cosby show where he was a doctor living in a family situation
But then people like Max clifford seemed nasty and controlling from day 1 and didn’t surprise me
It’s a complex situation

dragonfly46 Thu 30-Sept-21 22:22:29

I won’t be watching it. Saville lived a mile from where I grew up and used to often see him about. I find Steve Coogan creepy as well so well- suited to the part.

MissAdventure Thu 30-Sept-21 22:13:03

I'm sure I spell his name a different way every time I write it. blush

MissAdventure Thu 30-Sept-21 22:10:11

Saville openly said during an interview that he preferred young girls as they didn't know so much. (Or words to that effect)

JaneJudge Thu 30-Sept-21 21:58:35

crikey sad it is so sad

Iam64 Thu 30-Sept-21 21:35:42

In 1965 At age 16, I was allowed by my parents to go into Manchester club with our neighbour who was 17. She told me the DJ would be Jimmy Saville. She said I wasn’t to go to the record deck to make a request and I was to keep away from him. She said if he invited me back stage, I was not to go with him. She went on that because I was tall, I could pass for 17 so he’d probably ignore me because everyone knows he only wants the 13 year olds.
He was often on top of the pops, so of course I told my parents this. My dad was an Inspector cid crime squad at this time. He wasn’t surprised by what I said.
I always found him repugnant, no doubt partly because of what my older friend told me. Bit like Cyril Smith. A larger than life, very unpleasant sexual predator who got away with it for years. In Smith’s case, the establishment covered it up. Saville It seems different police forces didn’t communicate so victims were seen as individuals. Also of course, Saville targeted very vulnerable children.
Yes I’ll watch it. Coogan will be excellent. The publicity around this and other ‘celeb’ predators has made it more likely victims speak out. Not that prosecution is any more likely now

tickingbird Thu 30-Sept-21 21:23:55

Why is it too soon?

There’s been ‘Manhunt’ recently about Levi Bellfield and the so called Nightstalker. There’s been dramas about Brady and Hindley and Fred and Rose West. Odious as Saville was, I don’t believe he murdered anyone.

I should think if Steve Coogan’s accepted the part of Saville he’s satisfied it’s being done in a serious and sensitive way.

MissAdventure Thu 30-Sept-21 21:19:06

There are many interviews where Saville's demeanor changes in an instant to menacing, just for a few seconds, then back to his other persona.
Fascinating, if repugnant.

MissAdventure Thu 30-Sept-21 21:15:40

I thought that.
It has a good vantage point to be able to see for miles, too, I expect.
It looked really awful all boarded up with "Beast" sprayed over the door.
Crime is of huge interest to me. A kind of hobby.
Just reading, not committing!

Urmstongran Thu 30-Sept-21 21:12:49

Louis Theroux always regrets he didn’t push Savile hard enough when he interviewed him. He found his demeanour ‘menacing’. Savile hinted at ‘knowing the right people in high places’.

Frightening.

Urmstongran Thu 30-Sept-21 21:09:24

It is remote MissA. Part of its ‘charm’ (for him) I expect.
shivers

MissAdventure Thu 30-Sept-21 21:05:21

Urmstongran

And Michael Jackson MissA. ?

We pass Saville’s remote Scottish cottage each time we go up to Western Ross with my stepfather. It gives me the creeps when we pass it. Boarded up with graffiti now. The secrets those walls must hold...

It's very remote isn't it?
The graffiti happened between 2 of my visits.

LauraNorder Thu 30-Sept-21 21:01:43

Rolf Harris was a brilliant artist. We nearly invested in one of his paintings at an art exhibition in Liverpool years ago. Thank goodness we were pushed for time. I would have had to burn it.
I was drawing with my granddaughter recently and was about to say ‘do you know what it is yet?’ Nearly choked.
Can’t imagine how victims of these bastards are affected for ever after.

BlueBelle Thu 30-Sept-21 20:52:07

I know Saville had a very strange relationship with his mother was there a father figure?
I m afraid I couldn’t stand Gary Glitter but although I used to think Saville was a strange chap I never (as a young person) thought of him as an abuser However I m not sure I knew anything much about abuse at all when I was young

Urmstongran Thu 30-Sept-21 20:43:37

And Michael Jackson MissA. ?

We pass Saville’s remote Scottish cottage each time we go up to Western Ross with my stepfather. It gives me the creeps when we pass it. Boarded up with graffiti now. The secrets those walls must hold...